Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
cabinet thanges---NhS president
cleveland Didn't SOtC TN" ihfiH
and Surpias Questions
From cur Regular Correspondent
WASUJSGTOS. Nov .,

ana surp,ns Questions
From Cur Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nov %
Alfeady | have reported 10 You the
current capital gossip concerning the
cabinet changes that Mr.. Lamar will be
translated to the supreme bench, mat
Postmaster General Villas is to succeed
him and that MI Dickinson, OF Mlchi.
Gan, will be the latteT's successor. stu
another rumor Is that Mr. Whitney eX>
ppcis to resign from the cabinet unless
his health greatly improves within the
next two months, his friends claiming
that A man Of the vast wealth and great
social prominence of the present secre
tsry of the navy, cannot afford to en-
danger his existence by further devoting
himself to the un,rous duties incumbent
upon him.
MANY New York democrats were eX
tremelv solicitors tor the president 10 90
10 his old home at Buffalo and vote in the
late election, and much disappointment
wss felt thai he did not crafty public
expectation in that respect But the
pres dent had a good reason for abseuting
himself. as he had learned from trust
worthy sources. that his presence at the
polls would have been the occasion of an
undIgnitied and unseemly demonstration
on the part of = club of intensely parn
san republicans, as it was their unpatrl
otto purpose to challenge Mr. CIeveland's
right to vote, on the ground tha! he is
not now a legal resident of Buffalo. In
view of this exposed conspiracy, it is
doubtful if Mr. Cleveland again votes
during his presidency. and when his mo-
tive is understood, il will he applauded
bg all unbiased minds.
Messrs. Carlisle and Randall are both
in the city, and while neither is willing to
take the public into his confidence,
through the medium of the press, it is
highly probable that these great leaders
may have an informal conference before
the meeting of congress. with the view of
making the two wings of the democracy
flap together on the tariff question, in the
language of Mr. Randall during q speech
in the forth>ninth congress.
The forthcoming report Of Secretary
Fairchild is awaited with no ordinary de
gree of interest by the financial world. as
it is expected that he will take advanced
ground on the questions of the treasury
surplus, and the silver currency. Thai
the secretary is laboriously and carefully
applying himself to the important un-
dertaking that devolves upon him, l!
evidenced by the fact that TO accomplish
it he has for several days confined him
self to the privacy of his home, in orde
not to be diverted from his work by visl
tors to the department
Secretary Lamar in bis report, which i
completed but not yet published, recon
mends that the inter state commerce.
commission be detached from the inter
;or department and made directly respOn
sible TO congress or the president for il
acts, as at present the secretary of the in
terror only officiates in the capacity o
discussing officer for the commission
appearing that he has no jurisdiction
over that body at all,
There is a great pressure OF business a
the general land Office in the WAY of issu
ing agricultural patents, 2. 400 havins
been made out during the past month
and others in course of preparation will
increase the number to 500 for th'
month of November, which almost out
rivals any previous record.
The balance Of power in the uniteC
States senate is lodged with The rolliCkinl
RIddleberger, the senator from Virginia
who holds in the hollow of his hand tn
political future Of three democratic claim
ants to seats-Messrs. Lucas and Faux
ner, of West Visginia. and Mr. Turpie. o
Indiana. Senator Riddlehereer state
that he will endeavor to act as cOnscien
tiOusly in these controversies as il h
were on the supreme bench of the Unite
States.
The republican senate has more thai
enough chairmanships to go around
there being forty seven senate committee
to only thirty eight senators, and so it i
likely that the majority party will yer
generously bestow the nine surplus place
on their democratic brethren.